Independent Artists

Are you like me and spend way too much time online looking for eye candy? I just love being inspired by beautiful images, all sorts of things from fashion, furniture, food...you name it, I enjoy perusing it online. Perhaps it's the quest to never stop learning, or the obsessive compulsive vein that runs through me...who knows and frankly, who cares.

I have tripped over this amazing site that allows you to "PIN" images and share them with other like minded crazy folks. I can spend hours, no days here. And I am. It's a private site for now and requires an invitation in order to sign up for an account. I was lucky enough to get an invitation and have in return 4 more. And since anyone visiting my blog has good taste, send me a note if you are interested. You will curse me forever for getting you addicted to this FANTABULOUS site!

In my obsessive compulsive search for more "elegantly rustic" design inspiration I came upon this fabulous blog by interior designer Rachel Halvorson which I am now addicted to and have a girl crush on. And it only makes sense that Rachel resides in the South, Nashville, Tennessee to be specific. All good things come from the South.

I just LOVE her style, jeans, boots with a romantic lacey shirt. Funny how while I grew up in California and spent the last 10 years of my life in the San Francisco Bay Area, I'm still a country girl at heart. Where did that come from? And lucky for me, I'm dating a Texan.

Rachel was featured in the August/September issue of Garden & Gun magazine. Yes, Garden and Gun, why not?! No doubt for her sophisticated approach to home decor which celebrates Southern charm.

You know how much I love to throw in a bit of rustic elegance, so it's no doubt I am drooling over one of Rachel's kitchen redos. Who would ever have thought to place a cowhide rug in a kitchen. Practical? Maybe not, but who cares, it looks FABULOUS and isn't that what it's all about sometimes?

You all know how much I love my blogs. I try not to read too many and keep some as my daily favorites, otherwise, I'd spend all evening perusing blogs instead of feeding my dog and doing laundry. But Alise Burke's blog is so awesome, my laundry will definitely be piling up for sure. Enjoy - she's awesome!

When I was in my late teens, after our usual struggle of me fighting for independence which was always met by her resistance, she said I treated strangers better than I did my own family. She continued by saying I was impatient, rude and inconsiderate. At first I rolled my eyes and disregarded what she said. But years later, those words never completely left my thoughts and I wondered, what if she was right and I began down a path of self exploration and improvement. I'm not saying I'm completely better now, I do have my moments, but for the most part, I am more self aware of my actions and how they affect others.

Now that I'm more mature, a little wiser and aware of my actions, I see how they speak louder than words. It's not easy to change overnight, but with little reminders such as these, we are forced to look inside of ourselves and ask, "Do I treat others the way I want to be treated?" Often the answer is no. If you find yourself complaining about how others treat you, remember...people often mirror how they are treated and chances are, you are getting what you give.